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Gossip: Subotic to Liverpool, Witsel to Man United

LIVERPOOL INTEREST IN SUBOTIC
This is all a case of adding two and two and hoping you’ve got the right answer, but there are reports of Liverpool interest in Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.

This comes hot on the heels of Subotic revealing that he wishes to leave Dortmund this summer.

‘Dear friends, during the last year I realised that my love for the game of football in an active role is too big to just be able to see it from outside. Football is an important part of my life. I love it and I can’t be without it,’ he wrote in a letter to supporters.

‘I am in the best age for a football player and I want to use my time to improve myself and my team every day. And I want to have the feeling I am needed and I can give everything for my club. That is what I am thinking about. I do not want to earn my money on the bench, but to be a active part of the history like I was until last year. I hope you can understand that. Borussia Dortmund is the club of my heart and it will always be. Yours, Neven.’ Bloody hell, I’m going to cry.

Given that Liverpool are in need of another central defender and Jurgen Klopp was the one who signed Subotic for Dortmund, isn’t it logical that Klopp would look to bring the defender to England? Well, yes.

MANCHESTER UNITED EYE UP WITSEL
A big dollop of probable bulls**t now, with Tuttomercatoweb’s claim that Jose Mourinho wants Manchester United to try and sign Axel Witsel from Zenit St Petersburg.

We say bulls**t because we can’t see how Manchester United need another central midfielder. Michael Carrick, Morgan Schneiderlin, Marouane Fellaini, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind; there’s going to have to be a clear-out if someone else is to arrive.

The report says that ‘Zenit await an approach from Manchester United’, but we’re not convinced. Maybe Juventus, if they lose Paul Pogba, or Napoli or a Milan club.

CHELSEA BID AGAIN FOR NAINGGOLAN, AND WANT KANTE
Chelsea are set to make a third bid for Radja Nainggolan, and Antonio Conte wants to pair the Roma midfielder with Leicester’s N’Golo Kante.

Incoming boss Conte has made Nainggolan a priority signing ahead of his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, but Roma are holding out for £31million for the Belgium international. But according to the Daily Mirror, the Blues remain determined to land the 28-year-old and will not be put off by the price tag.

When asked whether he could extend his contract at the Stadio Olimpico, he replied: “I don’t know what my future will be, but I can just say that where I am I’m happy.”

The report also suggests that Conte also wants Chelsea to activate Foxes dynamo Kante’s £20million release clause, as the Italy boss looks to inject energy into the Blues midfield. Good thinking.

AND THE REST
AC Milan could scupper Arsenal’s move for Romelu Lukaku with a big money move for the Everton striker once their takeover by a Chinese consortium has been completed… Borussia Dortmund have lined up Bayer Leverkusen’s Karim Bellarabi as a replacement for Manchester United bound Henrikh Mkhitaryan… Leicester are in talks with Norwich over a move for Republic of Ireland winger Robbie Brady… Southampton will appoint former Monaco and Lyon boss Claude Puel as their new manager this week… Liverpool youngster Sergi Canos is set to join Championship outfit Bristol City in a £2.5million deal… Saints want to replace Victor Wanyama with Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey… Long-serving Everton duo Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert have yet to be told whether they will be offered new deals at Goodison Park.